Pneumatic musical instrument.



P. B. KLUGH. PNEUMATIC HUSIGAL'INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED we. 21, 1908.

942,915. Patented De14,1909.

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' E M @1/ 77M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL BROWN KLUGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CABLE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAL'L BROWN KLUGII, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of valves and valve-seats, such as are used in organsand automatic player mechanism for various musical instruments, the purpose and novel feature of which will be respectively pointed outin the following detailed description and claims.

Figure 1- is a fragmentary view in vertical section of enough parts of a pneumatic player-mechanism to demonstrate the use, location, and construction of, my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parts of the invention separately displayed; and Fig. 3 is an end view of the partcentrally displayed in Fig. 2.

A represents the valve-board forming the upper member of an air-chamber C and B the pouch or diaphragm-board forming (The end and not shown.) It will be understood that the mechanism I shall describe. in connection with this chamber is duplicated in accordancewith the number of notes to be sounded.

At D, .I have shown the. end part of one of a series of neumatics which are secured upon the member A. Connected by means'of the passages H and I with the interior of each neumatic is a valve-chamber G. Each chamlier G is formed in the member A by boring completely therethrough and fitting the ends of theopening with valve-seats or on s--E and F. c

T e valve N rests normally upon the seatflange of the lower cup F and is guided during vertical movement by the wings formed upon the valve-stem M. This stem extends through the barrel of the cup and is suspended by the valve over the usual diaphragm-pneumatic L. Elaborate descriptlon of the-operation of this valve is unnecessary.

A partial -vacuum is produced in the chamber C when the instrument is to be operated but ,with the valve'in the position shown in Fig. 1 the chamber Gr, passages H and I and pneumatic D are held from communication with the chamber 0 and are Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 21, 1908.

Patented Dec. 14, 1909.

Serial No. 449,654.

flushed with atmospheric air entering through the upper cup 15. As is well known, the valve N may be raised from the position shown and pressed upwardly against the seat-flange of the upper cup E upon admission of atmospheric pressure to the chamber K and consequent inflation of the diaphragm pneumatic L cau-sed by a perforation in the usual controllingshe'et. In such an instance air 18 prevented from entering through the cup E and the vacuum existing in the chamber C and around the webbed stem M, may extend through the lower cup F to the chamber G, passages H and I and pneumatic D.

My improvement consists in the peculiar shaping of both the upper and lower cups and particularly in the unique manner of turning the seat-flange thereupon. It is of vital importance that air in passing through the cups should not be obstructed nor caused to pass over sharp edges. As the seat-flange is formed upon a plane parallel with the valve and as the valve is never drawn away from the seat any greater distance than is absolutely necessary, it will be seen that the sharpest turn that the passing air is compelled to make exits at the inner edge of the flange. Heretofore valve-cups have been formed with the seat-flange turned inwardly from the barrel thus presenting a sharp edge to the passage of air at the .point designated. I have reversed this construction and an examination of Figs. 1 and Zwill'show that the inner-edges herepresent a smooth, rounded surface. In most instances the diameter of each valve-chamber G is re stricted by the scale or limited. distance be tween the separate note-actions and, as passage H leads from one side of chamber G, a free circulation of air is desirable within the. chamber to permit air-access to the circular valve from. all. sides. It will be seen that with a valve-cup-flange of given diameter,

site surfaces of leather or other suitable instai'ices it may be advisable to employ upper and lower cups of the same shape.

I clann: 1. 111 a' pneulnatlc musical instrument, the

combination with an air-passage, a port for connection with said passage, and a valve for controlling such connection, of a member positioned to ati'ord a seat for the valve having an opening and a flange turned outwardlytroin and surrounding; said opening upon which the said valve may rest, said flange having a flat valve-seating surface and a rounded inner edge.

In a pneumaticmusical instrument, the combination with an air-passage, a port for connectionwith said passage, and a valve for controlling such connection, of a member positioned to afford a seat for the valve comprising a barrel having at one end an outconnection with said passage, and a valve for controlling such connection, of a member positioned to afford a seat for the valve comprising a barrel having at one end'an outwardly-turned annular flange upon which said valve may rest and at the other end a second out 'ardly-turned annular flange by which the said member may be secured in position, the firstanentioned flange having a flat valve-seating surface and a rounded 1nner edge.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this eighteenth day of August, 1908, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PAUL BROWN KLUGH. Witnesses \V. \V. KERR, T. HEssLEa. 

